1000 miles completed, pic heavy

[expostmanpat]

I have now returned from cycling 1000 miles around the Alps and Pyrenees in the wheel tracks of the TdeF. I would like to thank the couple of people on Brisky who have donated to help save greyhounds facing destruction.

If anyone else would like to donate mydonate link is in my signature and will be live for a few more weeks.

In the meantime here is my story with pics.

After spending 30 hours on a coach I finally arrived home yesterday T-time (I think 30 hours on a coach deserves more recognition than cycling :bad: )

So here is an account of my adventures:

Day1 30/06

Early up for a coach pick up 7.40am. The portents where not good, although the seats reclined I found all the pressure in sitting in them was on my cocyx that I had whacked a week or so earlier. The journey was long and tedious.

Day2 1/07

Arrived in Valence at around 6.20am unloaded the bike and gear in the middle of an industrial estate and waved good bye to the coach. Set about building the bike back up and loading it. Managed to half rip a thumb nail off in the process. Weather was warmish but dull. Set off only for the sat nav to fail 10mins into the ride (a not uncommon occurance and the reason why, as you will see, only 90% of my ride is mapped on the GPS) http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841113

Re-booted the sat nav and it was off into the vercors.

Low cloud was hanging over the mountains and thunder and lightning in the distance.

Taking to my first climb I was soon into the clouds and starting to get wet. However due to the warmth of exertion it wasn't until the first descent that I felt the chill and began to don waterproofs.

Then came the real rain and a temp drop to 9 deg but it felt closer to zero on the long descents.

Eventually I broke out of the cloud and with hindsight should have stopped but no, plunging back into cloud I continued on to my destination with a pledge to find a hotel rather than camp!!

Rest of the days track can be found here:

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841115

Day3 2/07

Woke up to find the weather was still inclement so started out in full water proof gear.

following the route I found myself climbing back to the point I had broke out of the clouds the previous night (typical) But today it was still raining,still another col off the list!

The rain just did not let up and the sights I was looking forward to on the Combe Laval where shrouded in low cloud, this also made the descent treacherous turning my brake blocks to mush and effectively becoming grinding paste on my rims. (had to fit new brake blocks at the end of the day!)

I did try to take some video footage of the amazing Gorges la Bourne but on coming home I found all my video files have been corrupted, probably from the rain:(

Again I am afraid I decided against camping and found a hotel in a pretty market square and turned the bath room into a chinese laundry making much use of the hair dryer!!!

Of course the solar panel was pretty innafective in charging the gps so I had to switch to battery power so the track log was on and off.

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841111

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841117

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841121

Day4 3/07

The weather forecast on the hotel TV had painted a gloomy picture for the next 3 or 4 days, and indeed on waking the town was shrouded in mist

Still onward and upwards, the hounds where in much worse conditions than me!

The cloud was still hanging low over the mountains.

but at least my route was open

Arriving in Allemont the sun was shining and I had made good time.

The original plan had been to climb the Croix du Fur as a bonus ride in the afternoon and to continue on with the Alpe d'Huez and col de sarenne in the morning. Because the weather forecast had been so bad I decided to conquer Huez in the afternoon via the balcony roads, give up on the Sarenne and then be able to take the low road the following day whilst having still done the Huez (there was method there honest!)

The clouds thinned out at altitude

Looking down on the Alpe d'Huez

One of the famous hairpins

I did cheat though and leave my luggage at the camp!!

Days logs that the GPS deigned to remember!!

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841123

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841125

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841127

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841129

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841131

I had problems with the gps as I had unpacked at the camp and so had no battery with me and it was just about flat, the solar panel just wqasn't cutting it ,needless to say I did cycle back to Allemont!!

It is worth noting the temp over the day rose from 13 to 31 degrees!

[expostmanpat]

Day5 4/07

The sun was out and it was time to start climbing, and climbing, and climbing some more, the col de Lautaret was todays goal,the km long tunnels where scary though especially with the HGV!

This evening was my first night staying with a French host found on the internet, Thanks Martine for an excellent meal and a comfy bed! (will never forget the flying chicken dish you served)

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841133

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841135

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841139

[expostmanpat]

Day6 5/07

I was looking forward to today with some trepidation and anxiety, I have already traversed the Izoard by car and many guides recommend on a bike it is attempted SE to NW climbing through the Casse Deserte due to the narrowness of the road,the drop off and the likelihood of debris in the road from the frequent rock slides (hourly) Of course I was doing it the other way........................

And had my photo taken by the pros lol

The french will keep adding blue dye to their lakes!!

For some strange reason I had it in my head that the col de Vars was a simple climb and as the town I was meant to be staying in was downhill from the turn off I decided to carry straight on and gain a day. OOOOOOOOOOOOOPs, it was 19km and started at 7% and stayed there!! I was blottoed,

Again GPS was playing silly buggers so the ascent/descent of the Vars wasn't recorded but needles to say I did come down!! It was really weird, the guy who took that photo (Graham iirc) had done exactly the same thing ie tagged on the Vars rather than stopping in Guillestre, AND had just spoken to an Aussie couple who had also done the same thing! Anyway we all promised to meet up in Jausier at the camp site and attack the Bonnett in the morning.

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841141

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841143

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841145

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841147

Day7 6/07

Another biggie, the ascent of the highest paved road in France,24km at an average of 6.4% upto 2800m

The last bit comes in at around 17% I got off and pushed the final 500m I wasn't the only one!!

And the first proper appearance of baby Blue

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841149

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841153

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841155

[expostmanpat]

Day8 7/07

After spending a pleasant evening in Isola with Anne and Dominic the Aussie couple I had met on the Vars previously it was time to say goodbye as they headed downhill to Nice and I headed back skyward up the col couillole only to lose all that hard won height descending through the red wall gorges de cians.

Again I thought I had videod it but alas.

Before arriving at the walled city of Entrevaux and my campsite for the night

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841157

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841159

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841161

[expostmanpat]

Day9 8/07

Today the aim was to get somewhere into the gorge du verdon, passing the lac de castillon.

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841163

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841165

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841167

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841169

As you can see from data feilds in the GPS links above I was now cycling in temps around 41 degrees C

[expostmanpat]

Day10 9/07

So far I had managed to double up on 2 of my proposed days to gain a day in lieu, yesterday I also cycled slightly longer than I had planned and decided that today I could also probably gain another day on my itinerary, by continuing through to Sault. There was some method in my madness, I knew that Ventoux could be blighted by bad weather, Strong winds (it is what ventoux means!) low cloud, extreme heat etc so I thought if I had a couple of days up my sleeve if the weather was bad I could wait it out a day or two, or ride it as a circular route without the weight of my kit.

So today I continued through the Verdon Gorge and through the lavender fields. Then sat nav tried to send me via a cart track, then I ran out of water, but a Belgium B&B owner rescued me, then a bee hit me at40 kph arse first.....

Temp still a little warm lol

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841171

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841173

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841177

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841181

[expostmanpat]

Day11 10/07

I had no need to worry about the weather, conditions where perfect so fully packed and ready to go I hit the famous Ventoux.I climbed from the Sault side,stopping at the Chalet Reynard fora morning coffee and at the Simpson Shrine to leave a baby Blue behind to keep him company. It was then on to Chateauneuf Du Pape for a camp site.

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841183

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841185

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841187

Forgot to press record for some of the descent

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841191

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841195

[expostmanpat]

Day12 11/07

About half way through my trip now, though only in time wise, slightly further advanced in terms of distance and height gain, the really long big stuff is behind me

Didn't care much for Chateauneuf du Pape if I am honest, Hot dusty windy full of biting things that love me,amazingly no stand out restaurants just wine cave after wine cave, and as the campsite was miles away ...............

Anyway back to day 12, today I was looking out for a big roman bridgey thing :pardon:

and found the best Boulangerie of the trip :drinks:

Because I had made so much I cut today short and found a lovely campsite with a pool and decent restaurant on site. And from the conversation in the tent next door two trainee lesbians, but that story is for another forum!!!!

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841197

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841199

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841201

Day13 12/07

Today was totally non descript,didn't take any photos, there was a bit of wind a bit of sun. I was meant to be staying in sommieres but for some reason I decided I wanted a pool and the municipal campsite didn't offer one. Cycled miles out of town and found the next campsite (with pool) but they wanted 42 Euros for one night (all other campsites varied between 5 and 12 euro) Finally found another campsite miles from anywhere and thought should have said sod the pool and stopped in the city! Anyway to round off the story cycled a couple of K into a rural town to find food, and came across a nightclub with a restaurant on the roof, completely weird. (Junas if your passing,the pizza was fantastic!)

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841203

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841207

[expostmanpat]

Day14 13/07

Again I split my itinary into two to use up the days I had made, mainly because I had a bed promised to me the following night but only about 100km away and also tomorrow I wanted to catch the TdeF.

Well today was a little hilly as I passed through? Over? the Pic Saint Loup, there was also a bit of a wind. I also found out how thoughtful French road planners where to Pedestrians, but not to campists as they had built a road straight through where my evenings campsite used to be.

After much searching and wandering about to find everywhere full I noticed that campervans where parked up on what was effectively the village green of the town of Viols le Fort close to where I had planned view the tour. So I said sod it and put my tent up in the middle of that. As it turned out the town was celebrating Bastille day a day early and the racket and the kids running around the green until 1am did me no good at all!! I know I could have joined in but where do you put a fully loaded bike in a crowd of nutty intoxicated French people??

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841209

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841211

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841213

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841215

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841217

[expostmanpat]

Day15 14/07

I had high hopes for today, I had picked what I thought would be a quiet spot to watch the tour, I only had 60km to ride and I had a bed promised to me courtesy of Christian and his good lady wife.

I arose early to depart the village green and headed for the nearest Boulangerie and cafe for breakfast and an ablute. So far so good. Cycled the 3 km or so to my chosen spot, it was already busy with campervans set up and loads of Gendarmes (it was literally the middle of nowhere for pittys sake. The Police closed the road, then they opened it then they closed it (this went on for 5 hours btw) Anyhow at one point they (the men with guns) announced that although the cyclists would be coming along the route as advertised the preceeding caravan with all its publicity and hype would not,it would be bypassing our little corner. Well blow me, half the campervans that had been there hours suddenly upped and offed at this news to a different town. Well I thought this caravan must be a right bobby dazzler of freebies I will have to catch it later in the week!!

As it turned out the caravan did come by us, they did fight in the road for the freebies, that turned out to be crappy keyrings and 1cm long sausages in a bag and the cheapest cotton hats you ever saw

Anyway due to the strong winds the tour was late passing so at3.30 6 hours after arriving I now had the 60k or so to get to my lodgings, up hill and into the same wind that had slowed down the pros. Then to add insult to injury my route, which existed on the map and in my GPS turned from a road into a track into a field....... about turn and onto the main road to Bedarieux. I was late after 7 late. Sorry Christian, great reception and meal and I love your house, and pool.......

Incomplete track:

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841219

[expostmanpat]

Day16 15/07

Today it was windy, today it was hot, did I mention it was windy in the wrong direction! I was heading to the North of Carcasonne and I was expecting it to be at least flat, well all around was but the bit I was cycling on! Oh and it was hot......and windy and dusty, have I mentioned the wind?

Also tried my first cassoulet

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841221

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841223

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841225

[expostmanpat]

Day17 16/07

Pretty much a repeat of yesterday vis a vis heat wind and climbing oh and wind.

Continued West toward the Pyrenees of which we got our first glance.

120km of hell.

Tonight I was meant to stopping in Varhiles and then having a 20km short day on the 17th but after experiencing the fiasco of the tour and knowing I had to cross the peyresourde when it was their I decided to push on, I had a French lady who had offered me a bed on a flexible date so I wasn't too bothered. Of course as luck would have it she was in Toulouse and wouldn't return until 11.30pm but being a trusting soul she told me to just go in as the door was open and help myself. Thanks Cecile :flowers:

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841227

[expostmanpat]

Day18 17/07

Today I expected to do a bit of climbing. I had two Cols to get over and had the option of camping in St Beat or ringing my next nights host and asking to arrive early. The tour was due on the peyresourde on both the following 2 days and that was also my next challenge after today. The wind had dropped and the temp. was going silly again, the col de portet aspet was easy meat though the 17% descent on the other side had my rims melting. The col de Mente was a totally different animal, situated in a natural bowl with not a breath of wind and the temp rising this climb had me struggling. Eventually after a short break to chat to another Aussie tourer though I summited and enjoyed a brisk descent into Saint Beat. Phillipe was only too happy to hear from me so onward to Marignac and a great curry prepared by my host. Phillipe had also arranged to host an (would you believe it) Aussie back packer straight from Uni the same night. Matt turned out to be a sound young chap who arranged to borrow a bike from our host and cycle the peyresourde with me the following day to see the tour. Phillipe our host was in the act of packing at the time of our arrival and should be just about setting off for India and the Himalayas where he and his girlfriend where holidaying/ volunteering for 2 months.

Note the temp difference today, started at7 deg and topped out at37 deg

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841229

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841231

[expostmanpat]

Day19 18/07

A remarkable day. The tour was due for its first passage over the peyserourde and me and my new found Aussie friend where due to cycle to the summit to watch, him to return back to Phillipes, me to carry on over the other side. In Bagneres the finish town for the days stage that we had to pass through it was chaos, there where enough armed men to start a large scale war, never seen so many police, it was like Bradford on a Saturday night.

Once onto the Col road there where campervans and pedestrians everywhere, the atmosphere was electric. As I was riding with all my gear strapped to my bike the crowds where applauding me and shouting Bonn Courage monsieur all the way up!!

At the summit the tarmac was melting and we had a 4 hour wait but the atmosphere made it fly.

After the tour had passed (well done voeckler) I then had to descend into the pack of cyclists trying to follow the route of the tour, chaos. The descent was amazing riding the wrong side of the road flying passed the miles and miles of queueing cars and motorhomes.

Again I had a host to ring and move the date forward, thanks Julie for a lovely meal and a comfy bed.

The only fly in the ointment was poor baby Blue must have come unstuck somewhere on the way as by the time I stopped he was nowhere to be found.

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841233

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841235

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841237

[expostmanpat]

Day20 19/07

Woke up to low cloud and cold, I had been looking forward to the col d'aspin, it is meant to be beautiful and the plan was to just do that and then the Tourmalet the day after, especially as I still had a day in hand.

Climbing the Aspin I never cleared the clouds, even at the summit. I had started out with Arm and leg warmers, gillet and waterproofs, but the descent still froze me to the core. I saw the campsite I had earmarked (complete with pool )but as it was still very cold and wet and early I decided to press on, grab a coffee and hit the Tourmalet in the hope some climbing would put some heat in my bones and maybe the next valley would be clear?

The tourmalet is a bitch, too hot to wear my gear,, too wet not to. Too short to present a massive challenge after the alps or so I thought, it was much steeper on average (the last 6k rises nearly 600m ie averages 10%) The cloud eventually cleared at La Mongie and there where still the crowds from the tour the previous day. Again I got the comments and aplause that kept me going, merci. On reaching the summit I treat myself to a quick lunch and checked out the cloud on the other side,as well as the dire warnings from those ascending from this direction of road debris and greasy conditions.

The funniest thing today,a Cz registered coach with a bike trailer was dropping off its passengers and their bikes 2 corners from the summit

Anyway on this occaision I descended through the cloud and the sun was shining in Luz. Rather than trying to upset my hostess by moving the date forward 2 days I set up camp.

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841239

close

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841241

[expostmanpat]

Day21 20/07

Today was a spare day, I had already earmarked the cirque de Gavarnie as a place to visit if I had the chance so that was my mind made up. Again there was low cloud. The road surface was not what I had come to expect and neither was the standard of driving. I was not expecting the number of tourist coaches or to be passed on a single track road on a hairpin bend :sword:

I missed the cirque to start with and ended up climbing another col into Spain, but decided sod that and turned round. I found the cirque, it was very busy and the road leading into it was an unmade track designed to make the tourists hire one of the many horses/ donkeys available for the purpose. I got as far as I could pushing 40KG of touring bike but then gave up.

Tonight I returned slightly up the Tourmalet to a small village of Viella and the attentions of my hostess Anne. Thank you so much for a fantastic meal, and the chocolate cake she sent me off with was great.

Track back to Viella missing.

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841243

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841245

[expostmanpat]

Day22 21/07

Today as I still had a free day I had planned on cycling Argeles-Gazost, camping and hitting the col d'aubisque as a bonus, because there was more low cloud I decided to continue straight down to Lourdes and see what there was to see as a tourist.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, no comment for fear of offending

The descent of the gorge de Luz was nice though as was the 25km of dedicated cycle track into Lourdes, for this I did turn off the gps to save the battery for finding the coach on the next day. The campsite had a pool,what more could I ask for?

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841247

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841251

[expostmanpat]

Day23 22/07

Coach day. Received a text to say they would be an hour late, marvelous,picked up at 11.40am BST

http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=841255

Day24 23/07

Arrived back in Wakefield 3.15pm BST

Only point of interest was seeing a group of 8 chinese (they had a flag) cyclists on fully loaded touring push bikes cycling down the hard shoulder of the M1.

THANKS for looking,if you have enjoyed my short tale of adventure please consider donating a couple of quids to save the hounds

Thanks Andrew

Link https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/1000miles

[simonsheil]

Cracking job, still thing it would have been quicker by car, but seriously well done.

[matt_theforce]

Well Done.

That looks like an amazing journey

Matthew

[Dr Zoidberg]

Very impressive. Having started cycling in November I've done 700 and something miles with the longest trip being 30 miles.

The thought of doing 1000 miles in one holiday is all too scary - my target for the first 12 months was 1000!

[expostmanpat]

Keep at it Dr. I only started cycling again seriously in August last year and decided I needed a goal. Managed to shed 28KG in that time as well, so if I can do it anyone can

[matt_theforce]

Andrew. Donated

Dr Zoidberg, Keep at it. When I started cycling again last year I set my target to 1000miles and despite 8weeks off due to an operation I still made my target. This year I've doubled my target which I intend to beat

[ChrisRs]

What a trip Andy.

Congrats mate

CU at the Malthouse one day again

[expostmanpat]

Thanks Matthew